There we go again—making plans, telling Jesus what to do. We like how something makes us feel. We turn it into spectacle, and decide it can and should—needs to—perpetuate again and again.
God doesn’t even engage the suggestion. Just a word from the heavens:
Listen to Jesus.
It’s not that Peter’s idea was bad, right? He wasn’t necessarily being selfish or greedy. It’s just that he continues to miss the point. He’s not going to Hell for it or anything. He wanted to honor the moment, preserve the glory, bottle the holiness. But the instruction was clear: don’t speak — just listen.
Can I meddle a bit?
Christians have replicated Peter’s misguidance time and again over the centuries:
It’s not that beautiful ecclesial architecture is bad, it’s just not what Jesus asked us to do.
It’s not that worship music isn’t valuable or worthy of its writing and use, it’s just that such a focus on music is not what’s at the heart of what he came to do.
It’s not that praying aloud, being fervent about it, and expressing strong emotion is altogether wrong, it’s just that intensity is not a fruit of his Spirit.
It’s not that conferences, books, liturgies, podcasts, strategic plans, or Sunday service orders are evil, just that they tend to grow louder than the still, direct voice of Jesus.
The temptation isn’t always to reject Jesus—it’s often to improve on him in ways he has not asked of us. To wrap his words in grandeur. To supplement him with structure. But all of that, if we’re not careful, becomes noise.
Moses and Elijah show up on this transfiguration mount. They’ve met God on mountains before—Sinai/Horeb, Carmel.
Remember how Elijah ended up exhausted, depressed, and feeling all alone? It was right after he had that battle with the prophets of Ba’al. He was exhausted indeed. Notably, God never asked him to battle those prophets—it may have been his own idea. So God had a lesson for him: I don’t need spectacles - wind, earthquake, fire, loud noise begone. Here I am in a whisper.
What happens when we take the divine instruction seriously?
Don’t plan. Don’t speak. Just listen.
To him.
Mark 9:1-13
Jesus continued, “I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see God’s kingdom arrive in power.”
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, wondering, “What’s this ‘rising from the dead’?” They asked Jesus, “Why do the legal experts say that Elijah must come first?”
He answered, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. Why was it written that the Human One would suffer many things and be rejected? In fact, I tell you that Elijah has come, but they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it was written about him.”
Psalm 99:1-4
The Lord rules—the nations shake! He sits enthroned on the winged heavenly creatures—the earth quakes! The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them thank your great and awesome name. He is holy!
Strong king who loves justice, you are the one who established what is fair.
Prayer
God,
I know you’re okay with me saying things to you. I assume that the example of the psalmist—who, you know, kind of has a lot to say—is okay. But I have been noticing for years a need for me to shut up and just listen. I come to you seeking a product, a result, a transaction.
But you want relationship. And deep down, I know I do, too.
So help me to come to you with the right intentions. Help me to listen. Even right now, before I say, “Amen.”
By your Spirit & in Christ,
…
…
…
Amen.
So, why, then, do we “often to improve on him in ways he has not asked of us. To wrap his words in grandeur…?” Why do we continue building ornate churches, holding long conferences, requiring college degrees to live & teach like Jesus?